Title: Rags to Riches / More than Enough
Walt Disney was a dreamer. Walt’s vision led him to borrow money to start a production studio that would use cartoons to tell stories. During Walt’s lifetime, the word “Disney” became almost synonymous with family entertainment. But a production studio wasn’t enough. His vision and passion for telling storie gave him the idea of developing a brand new family oriented vacation destination to entertain fans who came to visit the studio. He opened Disney Land in 1955.
Disney Land wasn’t enough. He wanted people to feel like they had been transported to an enchanted land. How could people feel swept away when garbage was being hauled in public and employees were switching shifts. So against some people’s better judgment and to the objections of some closest to him, Disney purchased land in a swamp near a small town in Florida to build a theme park there as well. This park woudl have underground tunnels to handle the mundane tasks of operating a theme park. Nothing should interfer with the enchantment.
"Too much, too fast" his advisors said. "Curtail the dream." But Walt didn’t flinch. His dream and passion become a reality. Walt Disney World opened it’s gates in 1971. Since it opened, more than 800 million people have visited the magic Kingdom. The feel is indeed enchanted. If you have children, it is probably on the bucket list of places you want to visit.
Walt Disney was a big dreamer. But there is a problem with dreamers. Their dreams often require risk; they often require big budgets and lots of help. And that is hard to swallow. Folks I’m a dreamer too. But I look around our congregation and I realize that we are not a mega church. We don’t operate with a multi million dollar budget like a big business. We don’t have thousands of members. Financially, we are not the wealthiest congregation. There are many people on fixed incomes and tight budgets. We have a good percentage of our members past retirement age. And, at times, it seems even to me as a dreamer that we do not have enough.
Not enough. I hear it often sometimes from my own lips.
Not enough time in the day.
Not enough money.
Not enough skill.
Not enough knowledge.
Not enough energy.
Not enough youthfulness.
Not enough years left to dream
Not enough passion
Do any of these “not enough” phrases ring true to you? And when the thoughts of "not enough" come around, dreams become lifeless. Before we know it, our passion is gone too. Real life begins to feel like an airline jet flying on autopilot -- Simply staying the current course and maintaining the status quo. We feel like we shouldn’t rock the boat or the boat may capsize. Not enough.
As time passes, as we get older, we can get jaded from seeing failed dreams. We get stuck in what is and what was and we don’t want to think about what could be. And our lives slowly fade into "not enough."
Is this what God intended? Are dreams for people who are younger? Are they for people who have not experienced the sting of failure? Are dreams for those who can afford to risk? Does God want us to live passionless lives in "Not enough?"
Today, I want to take a broad look at the book of Exodus, but our theme passage will be Exodus 36:1-7. (If you want to turn there or mark the place)
As you turn to that text, let me offer some context of what is taking place in this O.T. narrative.
As Exodus opens the Hebrew people are put into slavery. For 400 years they endure the ideas of "not enough." So God raises up Moses, and through him, God rescues the nation of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Through the leadership of Moses, the Hebrew people have left Egypt, fled through the Red Sea, and are now camped at the base of Mt. Sinai. In chapter Exodus 19, Moses is commanded up on the mountain as God instructed and receives the Ten Commandments and the Jewish law. For 5 chapters (19-24) God lists the laws that will govern his people as they head for the promised land.
In Exodus 25, God gives Moses these directions.
Exodus 25:1-9 (NIV)
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 8 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
For 5 more chapters God lists to Moses the exact requirements for the construction of the tabernacle and all the furnishings of worship. (Read chapters Exodus 25-30 sometime) God provides a very specific vision and pattern for how the items of the tabernacle are to be made.
Do you see the list of items? Gold, silver, bronze, spices and oil, precious gems; expensive fabrics and woods. And he has exact standards for how all of it should be made.
I read this in Exodus and I have to wonder, “What is God thinking?” Consider whom he is asking to make this happen. He is talking to the leader of a bunch of former slaves. And he wants slaves to offer gifts of precious metals, precious stones, expensive fabrics, and rare woods? To me it doesn’t make sense!
After the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1862, American slaves were granted their freedom. But not long after, a number of them returned to their former masters because they were uneducated, destitute, and hungry. Many of them were still in rags. So they returned to what they knew; manual labor in the cotton fields. It is rare indeed that a freed slave is rich; rarely is he educated.
And God is asking for an expensive offering from his people. In order to build this tabernacle and the furnishings, it will require a great deal of wealth; it will require a great deal of skill in making; it will require many hands to accomplish. It would not seem that a bunch of former slaves would have enough to accomplish it. Do you agree?
But listen to God’s words to Moses. Skip ahead to Exodus 31. After specific directions are given for the furnishing of worship God tells Moses,
Exodus 31:2-11 (NIV)
2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent--8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand-- 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you."
God provides a man with the skill to oversee the project – Bezalel – God gave the skill.
God provides lead a assistant to help organize and train – Oholiab.
God provides skills to ALL the craftsmen to make what he has commanded.
God provides the skills, gifts, energy, and time necessary in order to complete his plan
And the gifting is not excluded to a few. The gifting is given to ALL the craftsmen. That seems to be God’s pattern. When God provides a vision, he provides the necessary skills to make it happen. It’s the same with us at First Christian Church!
Listen to what is written in the book of Ephesians!
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
If the Bible is true (and I believe that it is) God equips every believer for continued works of service. Isn’t that amazing. We can all be useful in God’s kingdom regardless of our past, our education, our age, or even our experience.
The skills are different, but the goal is the same. The common good. Look at the Israelites. God equipped some to lead and train, some were equipped in carpentry, setting stones, sewing, and dying fabrics, some were equipped as priests, to butcher sheep, and to lead in worship. And God used the skills of all so that his plan could be accomplished. As stewards then, they were to use those skills for God.
Therefore, in our discussion of giving, it seems that
I. Observation: Stewardship is as much about our time and our hands as it is about our money.
We see in our story that the people and the skills to accomplish the vision that God had given were made available in the Israelite camp.
But what about the materials? Remember these people are just freed slaves. Slaves would not have gold and silver and precious jewels would they? I think a little back-story might be necessary. We might need to do a flashback in our text. Skip back to Exodus 12.
In order for Moses to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go, God had sent 10 plagues on the land of Egypt. The tenth and by far the worst plague was the Passover of the death angel – at it, the firstborn son that was not protected by the blood of lamb on the doorpost died. This happened to the poorest family all the way up to Pharaoh’s own son.
And listen to what happens after the Passover.
Exodus 12:31-36 (NIV)
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."
Pharaoh wanted the people gone. He had had enough. And so had the people of Egypt. These slaves had lost their value. And they wanted them gone; the sooner the better.
33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.
And catch verse 36.
36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.
The people of Egypt could not get rid of these slaves fast enough. They hurried them out of the country so fast that the Hebrews didn’t even have time for to add yeast to their dough and let it rise.
The Egyptians literally feared for their lives. And they were willing to give the Hebrews whatever they asked in order to get them to leave as quickly as possible: Gold and silver jewelry with rare, inset stones, expensive fabrics and purple clothing.
Do you see what God has done? As the people are leaving the bondage of slavery he is already equipping them with the materials to build the tabernacle and the furnishings. Not a shot was fired!
Slide: God will always provide the financial resources necessary to complete his vision.
In this case God was preplanning riches for a bunch of slaves. To the Hebrews their wealth came unexpectedly and quickly. God had a greater purpose for what they had received as they plundered the Egyptians.
Observation: Wealth can always be used for a greater purpose.
Can I share a real life example from THIS church? I’ve been planning this sermon series for a while. And one of the things we as leadership have noticed over the last few board meetings is that we need to begin to modernize our church building. There are curtains and décor that are from the 1970’s. So we want to repaint walls; put in a welcome center; change some of the décor, all in an effort to make our place of worship together more appealing to visitors.
We certainly believe this vision to change is God given. But we haven’t always had enough funds to make it happen. "Not enough" were my thoughts, also, as I put the idea on the board agenda. How will we fund it? Listen to what God did. The Monday before our leadership meeting, a family doneated a free will gift of $10,000.00 to the church. This family gave to our church because they felt the need. The only instructions they gave for the money were that the funds be used, and used in Onawa.
Family, do you see what God was doing? God was preplanning to accomplish his vision so that his name could be glorified! God used a family to make his given vision a reality. I CELEBRATE IT! We celebrate it! GOD is indeed able to accomplish HIS vision and he funded it without a shot being fired (so to speak).
What God desires from us is generosity.
Principle: God desires generosity of his provision.
Look in our narrative today. God had provided for his vision well before his instructions to build the tabernacle and in Exodus 35 God commands a free will offering to take place.
Exodus 35:29 (NIV)
29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.
It was more than just things with monetary value – In our text, the people rally together as one to bring their skills and time as an offering before the Lord. They catch a renewed passion.
And listen to what happens. I find this passage mind-boggling.
Exodus 36:1-3 (NIV)
1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded." 2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.
These former slaves are giving out of freedom! And they do not stop giving. Listen to what happens.
Exodus 36:4-7
4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work
5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
Moses has to restrain the people from giving. He issues a decree that the giving should stop, why? Because what they had to accomplish the work God had given was MORE than ENOUGH!
More than enough! Did you read it? More than enough.
Premise: When God gives a vision to accomplish, he will always provide more than enough through those who are willing to make it happen.
Application:
I. When God provides a vision he will see that his people are equipped and able to see it accomplished. (Exodus 36:2)
He will provide a plan. Sometimes the plan is clearly laid out. Sometimes the plan simply says, “Trust me.” Either way, He will make that it will be helped financially. He makes sure that the skills are in place. Understand, these are all PROVIDED by GOD!
II. When we are so captured by the vision from God it will ignite a passion to see it accomplished.
Morning after morning the Israelites kept bringing free will offerings to the Lord. I cannot stress enough that these people are former SLAVES who now have some wealth!
And they are giving out of FREEDOM! None was OBLIGATED to give.
Did everyone give the same – I doubt it – I know enough about human nature to know that some kept a little of the plunder for themselves – but it did not matter – there was more than enough. The text tells us that the Israelites so passionately worshipped God with their giving that they were RESTRAINED from GIVING ANYMORE!
Vision: More than enough should be the rallying cry of every believer! More than enough talent! More than enough finances. More than enough knowledge. More than enough youthfulness! More than enough time! When God gives a vision for his people, he provides MORE than enough to see it accomplished.
If that’s true, and I believe that it is, we have more than enough at First Christian Church! As we look around the congregation; as we examine the budget; as we continue to seek willing volunteers, it might seem the other way around. It might appear like we don’t have enough. As we examine our personal lives, it might seem like we don’t have enough. But when we catch God’s vision; when we seek to make his plan a reality, we discover that we have more than enough. And God’s vision is earth shaking. Rather than building a tabernacle, God has equipped his Kingdom in Onawa and beyond.
So in our stewardship, God is not looking for us to give out obligation – our time, our energy, our money, our resources – rather he wants to ignite a passion in us to give from our freedom.
Do you see the vision of more than enough?
What would happen if we were so caught by the vision of God, so passionate about giving of our available resources, that we were restrained from giving any more? It’s probably a dream…but it could be a reality!
What to do:
Fill out your ministry opportunities sheet in your bulletin and turn it in the church office. God has given MORE than enough. And there are places that every person can serve. If you aren’t sure about where to serve, come to our search light class to discover God’s vision for your life and how God has equipped you. Through it, you may discover your passion and gifting, and if you are willing, God has more than enough to make it happen through you.
